全球海洋每年吞噬1100万吨塑料_奇速读时文快乐学英语

时文摘要

塑料正以触目惊心的速度吞噬我们的海洋。本文通过具体数据揭示了全球海洋塑料污染的严峻现状，并聚焦于印度尼西亚、巴西、印度和菲律宾这四个主要污染国，剖析其污染规模、根源及对海洋生态造成的致命影响。

Plastic is durable and usually light, making it the perfect material for getting caught in the wind and swept along with an ocean current, travelling long distances. Each year, approximately 11 million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans. That’s the equivalent of dumping 2000 garbage trucks full of plastic every day into the world’s lakes, rivers and oceans. This has had a detrimental effect on marine life, coastal cities and ecosystems. Below are the major countries contributing to global ocean plastic pollution.

With a population of 285 million, Indonesia was responsible for almost 600 tonnes of plastic waste ending up on foreign beaches. Producing about 7.8 million tons of plastic waste per year, more than 60 per cent of this waste is mismanaged. The plastic waste is dumped in the waterways, flowing into the rivers and finally into the sea. Up to 1.29 million tonnes of Indonesian plastic waste end up in the ocean each year.

Brazil is another major contributor to the ocean’s plastic pollution. Discarding 3.4 million tonnes of plastic every year, a third of this reaches the coast, dumping 1.3 million tonnes into the ocean. Microplastics have even been found in Brazil’s most highly protected marine areas.

India faces a severe marine plastic pollution problem. India generates approximately 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste a year. Of this, 3.4 million tonnes is mismanaged and is left to leak into the environment. It is estimated that 80 per cent of marine litter along India’s coastlines is plastic, often being swallowed by animals who mistake it for food. An estimated 60 per cent of India’s plastic waste ends up in rivers and coastal waters, contributing to the global crisis of marine debris.

The Philippines contributes to around 36 per cent of the world’s ocean plastic waste. With 2.7 million tonnes of plastic being discarded annually, 20 per cent of this will enter our oceans. Rivers are the main arteries that carry waste to the ocean, and seven of the world’s top ten plastic-polluting rivers are in the Philippines. 466 rivers in the country alone emit 356,371 metric tons of plastic waste annually, with a high chance of ending up in the ocean.

1. 1.Why does the author mention “2000 garbage trucks”?

A To describe waste collection methods.

B To highlight the severity of the issue.

C To compare different types of pollution.

D To explain garbage truck capacity.

2. 2.According to the text, what is the main cause of Indonesia’s ocean plastic pollution?

A High population density.

B Lack of recycling technology.

C Mismanagement of waste.

D Industrial production levels.

3. 3.Which group is India’s plastic pollution especially harmful to?

A Coastal cities.